Necktie and tie knot form therefor

ABSTRACT

A necktie having a simulated knot includes a contoured form for providing the knot wherein the simulated knot is formed directly from the necktie itself in cooperation with the contoured form, the necktie being fastened about the form along the contours of the outer surface thereof so as to directly form the simulated knot from the necktie. The form preferably comprises an arcuate member having a contoured inner surface concave portion and a substantially parallel contoured convex outer surface portion, the form tapering from each end to the center thereof so as to form a single continuous symmetrically tapered concave channel for the inner surface portion and a symmetrically tapered contoured arcuate convex portion for the outer surface portion. The form may be a single contoured member around which the body of the tie is secured by a single stitch or may be a pair of nesting geometrically similar forms to which the tie is secured by means of a removable slide fastener. In the latter case, the location of the form may be readily varied along the length of the tie so as to alter the location of the simulated knot.

firmed @tates atet Piper 51 Oct. 2, 1973 l l NECKTIE AND TIE KNOT FORM THEREFOR ABSTRACT [75] Inventor: John Mark piper, Petersburg A necktie having a simulated knot includes a contoured Fla form for providing the knot wherein the simulated knot is formed directly from the necktie itself in cooperation l l Asslgncci Samuel Baruch, Clearwaler' with the contoured form, the necktie being fastened 22] Filed: June 21 1972 about the form along the contours of the outer surface thereof so as to directly form the simulated knot from l l PP N05 264,773 the necktie. The form preferably comprises an arcuate member having a contoured inner surface concave por- [52] US. Cl. 2/153 am a Subslamlally parallel contoured convex s1 1 rm. Cl A4lrl 25/08 Surface the tapering each end [58] Field of Search 2/150 52 R, 152 A1 to the center thereof so as to form a single continuous 2/153 symmetrically tapered concave channel for the inner surface portion and a symmetrically tapered contoured [561 References Cited arrcuate convex portion for the outer surfage portion.

he form ma be a sin e contoured mem er around UNITED STATES PATENTS which the body of the t ie is secured by a single stitch 1,149,800 8/l9l5 Walker Z/l53 or y be a p of nesting geometrically Similar forms 5523? to which the tie is secured by means of a removable 2:566:760 9/1951 Dorusakil 2/153 Shde the case the location of the Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Attorney-Myron Cohen et al.

form may be readily varied along the length of the tie so as to alter the location of the simulated knot.

9 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENIEDBET 2 I 3.761.964

SHEET 10F 2 NECKTIE AND TIE KNOT FORM THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to simulated knot therein.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is well known to make a permanent or semipermanent knot in a tie using a knot form to which the body of the tie is sewn or around which the body of the tie is folded. Such prior art arrangements utilize either one or two piece knot forms shaped so as to conform to the shape of a tie knot wherein the tie is, in one way or another, connected to the form to simulate a conventional tie knot. Typical prior art arrangements using a one piece knot form for simulating a tie knot are disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 2,001,452; 2,096,253 and 2,423,133. These prior art arrangements, however, are not as satisfactory as desired in that these prior art ar rangements require complicated sewing procedures in order to hold the simultaed knot in place.

Typical prior art neckwear utilizing two piece forms in order to provide a simulated knot for the necktie are disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 908,768; 1,81 1,748 and 2,473,739. These prior art two piece forms have also not been as satisfactory as desired in that they are not readily adjustable to vary the length of the necktie in which the simulated knot is being formed due to elaborate stitching of the necktie to the form which prevents the length of the tie being adjusted by the wearer and, in several instances, the requirement in such prior art neckwear of a separate knot to be stitched to the tie body to form the simulated knot.

Thus, to applicant's knowledge, no tie knot form is presently known which either requires no stitching and permits the length of the tie to be adjusted by the wearer such as in a two piece form, or which obviates the need for complicated sewing procedures and requires only one stitch to hold the knot permanently in place such as in a one piece knot form.

These disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A contoured form for providing a simulated knot for a necktie includes a first arcuate member having a contoured inner surface portion and a substantially parallel contoured outer surface portion. The contoured form has a common substantially centrally located channel portion having a pair of spaced apart upstanding side walls and a pair of substantially symmetrical arcuate contoured tapered portions, one of the tapered portions tapering inwardly towards the common channel and the other tapered portion being substantially the mirror image of the one tapered portion and tapering outwardly from the common channel so as to form a single continuous symmetrically tapered concave channel for the inner surface portion of the form and a symmetrically tapered contoured arcuate convex portion for the outer surface portion. The common centrally located channel portion includes means, such as apertures in the side walls of the common channel substantially in registration along the transverse axis of the form or an upstanding rod-like member extending upwardly from the center of the common channel which cooperates with a slidable locking means, for enabling fastening of the necktie about the first arcuate member neckwear having a along the contours of the outer surface portion so as to directly form the simulated knot from the necktie. When the form is a one piece arcuate form having apertures in the side walls of the common channel, the necktie is draped over the form and a single stitch is preferably placed through the draped necktie portions and through the apertures to secure the necktie portions together along the contours of the outer surface portion of the form so as to directly form the simulated knot from the necktie. Preferably, before securing the necktie to the form, a transverse fold is made in the necktie substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the form. When the form is a two piece form, a second arcuate member is provided which is substantially geometrically similar to the first arcuate member and is nestable therein. The first arcuate member preferably has a rod-like member protruding from the center thereof and the second arcuate member preferably has an aperture in the center thereof so that when the second member nests in the first, the rod-like member protrudes through this aperture. In utilizing this two piece knot form, the first arcuate member is placed at any desired location along the length of the tie, preferably inside of the tie body, the second arcuate member is placed in nesting position in the first, and the tie is draped about the first arcuate member and through the second arcuate member and secured in position by means of slidably mounting a locking means on the rodlike member. If it is desired to change the position of the simulated knot, the slidable locking means is merely removed from the rod-like member and the position of the form may then be varied.

Preferably, as in the case of the one piece knot form, a transverse fold is made in the tie substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the form prior to securing the tie permanently or semi-permanently to the form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the preferred embodiment of a one piece tie knot form;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of an alternative embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of the preferred embodiment of a two piece tie knot fonn similar to FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 with the two component portions hinged apart from each other;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of an alternative embodiment of the form shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of a necktie employing the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the necktie shown in FIG. 8; and

FIGS. 10 through 13 are diagrammatic illustrations of the preferred method of directly forming a simulated tie knot from a necktie utilizing the two piece form shown in FIGS. 4 through 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings in detail and especially to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, the preferred embodiment of a contoured form, generally referred to by the reference numeral 20, for providing a simulated knot for a necktie is shown. As shown and preferred in FIGS. 1 and 2, the contoured form preferably comprises an arcuate member having a contoured inner surface portion 22 and a substantially parallel contoured outer surface portion 24. Preferably, the inner surface 22 includes a common substantially centrally located channel portion 26 having a pair of spaced apart upstanding side walls 28 and 30, and a pair of substantially symmetrical arcuate contoured tapered portions 32 and 34 with tapered portion32 preferably tapering inwardly toward the common channel 26 and tapered portion 34, which is preferably substantially the mirror image of tapered portion 32, preferably tapering outwardly from the common channel 26 so as to form a single continuous symmetrically tapered concave channel 46 for the inner surface portion 22 and a symmetrically tapered contoured arcuate convex portion 42 for the outer surface portion 24.

As shown and preferred in FIG. 2, in contoured form 20, which, as shown and preferred in a one-piece tie form for providing a simulated knot for a necktie, the common centrally located channel portion 26 preferably includes an aperture, which in the example shown is a notch 44, in each of the channel side walls 28 and 30. These apertures 44 are preferably substantially in registration with each other along the transverse axis of the form 20 and, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter, enable fastening of the necktie about the form 20 along the contours of the outer surface portion 24 so as to directly form a simulated knot from the necktie.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an alternative embodiment of the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 is shown. The contoured form 20a is preferably identical in shape and configuration except for the absence of apertures 44 in each of the common channel side walls 28 and 30, an alternative means being provided for enabling fastening of a necktie about the form 20a along the contours of the outer surface portion 24. As shown and preferred in FIG. 3, this alternative means preferably comprises a pin or rod-like member 46 which preferably has a ta pered end point capable of piercing the material of the necktie in which the simulated knot is to be provided, and a clasp 48 which is a slidable conventional locking means slidably mountable on the pin 46 and lockable in place. Preferably, the pin and clasp arrangement 46-48 is of the type similar to that conventionally utilized for earrings or tie-tacks.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a necktie 50 having a simulated knot 52 therein which is provided in conjunction with contoured form 20 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is shown by way of example. The necktie 50 preferably comprises an upper portion 54 and a lower portion 56, the lower portion 56 comprising the normally observed portion of the tie and being wider than the upper portion 54 which is utilized to provide the knot. The form 20 is placed behind the tie and the upper portion 54 thereof. The transverse fold 58 is preferably made in the upper portion 54 of the tie 50, preferably parallel to the transverse axis of the single piece tie form 20. The part of the upper portion 54 which extends beyond the end of the form 20 is then preferably tucked into the concave channel 40 and the portion of the tie 50 draped over form 20 is then folded around the outer surface 24 of the form 20. Preferably, a single stitch 60, or some other conventional securing means, is then passed through the portions of the tie draped or molded around the outer surface portion 24 adjacent the apertures 44, and through these apertures 44 so as to secure the necktie about the form 20 at this point with the upper portion 54 of the tie 50 which is draped or molded about the outer surface 24 of the form 20 along the contours of the outer surface portion 24 so as to directly form the simulated knot 52 from the necktie 50.

As shown and preferred in FIG. 9, when the necktie S0 is so secured, a loop 62 is preferably formed. A neckband 64, which is preferably open at the ends 66 and 68 thereof is then threaded through the loop. The ends 66 and 68 of the neckband 64 preferably include fastening means, such as Velcro R strips 70 and 72 along a portion of the length thereof, which strips 70 and 72 when overlapped cooperate to close the neckband 64 and form a loop around the neck of the wearer to hold the necktie 50 thereon in conventional fashion. Preferably, these strips 70 and 72 may be overlapped along any portion of their length so as to provide a variable length of variable diameter loop for the neckband 64 thus enabling the neckband to be adjusted for different size necks.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 6, a preferred embodiment of a two-piece tie knot form 74 is shown. Preferably, this two-piece knot form 74 includes a pair of substantially geometrically similar nesting arcuate members 76 and 78 which are hingedly connected together such as by means of molding the two pieces 76 and 78 in the same form together with a hinge 80. Preferably, arcuate member 76 is identical in structure and configuration with contoured arcuate member 20a previously described with reference to FIG. 3 and will not be described in greater detail hereinafter. Similar nestable arcuate member 78 also preferably includes a pair of tapering portions 82 and 84 which are geometrically similar to portions 32 and 34 and which taper from each end of member 78 towards the common centrally located channel portion 86 thereof. Channel portion 86 preferably includes a centrally located aperture 88 therein through which the pin 46 protrudes. Suffice it to say that contoured arcuate members 76 and 78 each have a single continuous symmetrically tapered concave channel 20 and 92, respectively, for the inner surface portions 4 and 96, respectively thereof, and a symmetrically tapered contoured arcuate convex portion 88 and 100, respectively, for the outer surface portions 102 and 10d, respectively thereof. The pin and clasp 46-48 arrangement previously described with reference to FIG. 3, is preferably utilized for enabling fastening of the necktie about the outer surface portions 102 of the two-piece form 74 along the contours thereof so as to directly form the simulated knot for the necktie. The two-piece form 74 is shown in the hinged open position in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 7, if desired, the two-piece form 74 may preferably be formed of two separate distinct contoured geometrically similar nesting members 76a and 78a identical to members 76 and 78 but which are not hingedly connected together. Thus, the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is preferably identical with that previously described with reference to FIGS. 4 through 6 with the exception that there is no hinged connection between nesting members 76a and 78a. Preferably, both the one-piece and two piece contoured forms for providing a simulated knot for a necktie are formed of a polyolefin material such as polypropylene or polyethene, although other materials may be utilized if desired.

Referring now to FIGS. through 13, the preferred method of providing a simulated knot, similar to knot 52 illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, utilizing the two-piece tie knot form 74 described with reference to FIGS. 4 through 6 is shown. Preferably, as previously described, the necktie 110 has a lower portion 112 and an upper portion 114. The two-piece tie knot form 74 is placed at any desired position along the length of the tie 110 at which the simulated knot is to be formed. Preferably, the larger geometrically similar arcuate member 76 is placed inside of the tie 110 with the hinged portion 78 protruding therefrom and the pin 46 extending upwardly. The nesting portion 78 is then hinged into position nesting within member 76 with aperture 88 passing over pin 46 which then protrudes therethrough. A transverse fold similar to fold 58 is then made in the tie upper portion 114 preferably substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the form 76 in the closed, nested position. The upper portion 114 of the tie 110 is then draped around the outer surface 102 contour of arcuate member 76 and the upper part thereof is passed through the tapered concave channel of arcuate member 78. The portion of the tie 114 passed through or tucked into the concave channel 92 of inner arcuate member 78 is passed over the pin 46 which is forced through the material of the tie and which readily passes therethrough due to the tapered end point. The clasp or clamp 48 is then slidably mounted on the portion of the pin 46 protruding through the tie so as to secure the necktie about the outer surface portion 102 of the form 74 so as to directly form the simulated knot from the necktie.

As was previously mentioned with reference to FIG. 9, and as shown in FIG. 13, after the tie has been secured in this manner, a loop 120 is formed in the upper portion of the tie through which a neckband 64a, similar to neckband 64, may be passed. Preferably, neckband 64 and 64a are identical and, thus, neckband 64a will not be described in greater detail hereinafter.

It should be noted that if it is desired to now change the location of the simulated knot for tie 110, all that need be done is that clasp 48 be removed from pin 46, the upper portion 114 of the tie be slid off the pin 46, and the form he movedto a new position along the length of the tie 110 where the procedure described above may be repeated.

It should be understood that the above described embodiments of the invention are merely illustrative of the principles thereof and that numerous modifications and embodiments of the invention may be derived within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A contoured form for providing a simulated knot for a necktie comprising a first arcuate member having a contoured inner surface portion, a substantially parallel contoured outer surface portion, a common substantially centrally located channel portion having a pair of spaced apart upstanding side walls and a pair of.

substantially symmetrical arcuate contoured tapered portions, one of said tapered portions tapering inwardly toward said common channel, said other tapered portion being substantially the mirror image of said one tapered portion and tapering outwardly from said common channel so as to form a single continuous symmetrically tapered concave channel for said inner surface portion and a symmetrically tapered contoured arcuate convex portion for said outer surface portion, and said common centrally located channel portion includes means for enabling fastening of said necktie about said first arcuate member along the contours of said outer surface portion so as to directly form said simulated knot from said necktie.

2. A contoured form in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for enabling fastening of said necktie about said arcuate member comprises an aperture in each of said common channel side walls, said apertures being substantially in registration along the transverse axis of said form.

3. A contoured form in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for enabling fastening of said necktie comprises an upstanding rod-like member extending upwardly from said common channel substantially at the geometric center of said inner surface portion, said rod-like member having a tapered end point for protruding through said necktie when a portion thereof is placed over said end point, and a locking means slidably mounted on said rod-like member end point for securing said necktie portion to said form about said first arcuate member.

4. A contoured form in accordance with claim 3 wherein said form further comprises a second arcuate member substantially geometrically similar to said first arcuate member and nestable therein, said second arcuate member common central channel portion having an aperture therein substantially at the geometric center thereof, said rod-like member end point protruding through said aperture when said second arcuate member is nested within said first arcuate member, said second arcuate member being between said locking means and said first arcuate member when said locking means is slidably mounted on said rod-like member end point.

5. A contoured form in accordance with claim 4 wherein said second arcuate member is hingedly secured to said first arcuate member.

6. A contoured form in accordance with claim 1 wherein said form is formed of a polyolefin material.

7. A necktie having a simulated knot therein comprising a first arcuate member having a contoured inner surface portion, a substantially parallel contoured outer surface portion, a common substantially centrally located channel portion having a pair of spaced apart upstanding side walls and a pair of substantially symmetrical arcuate contoured tapered portions, one of said tapered portions tapering inwardly toward said common channel, said other tapered portion being substantially the mirror image of said one tapered portion and tapering outwardly from said common channel so as to form a single continuous symmetrically tapered concave channel for said inner surface portion and a symmetrically tapered contoured arcuate convex portion for said outer surface portion, said common channel portion including an aperture in each of said channel side walls substantially in registration along the transverse axis of said form; and a tie body having a lower portion and an upper portion, said upper portion being narrower than said lower portion, said upper portion having a part thereof draped about said form outer surface portion and a part thereof passed through said continuous concave channel, said upper portion having a transverse fold therein across said outer surface draped part substantially parallel to the transverse axis of said form, securing means extending through said loop.

9. A necktie in accordance with claim 8 wherein said neck band means includes a pair of ends having fastening means thereat, said end fastening means cooperating together'along a variable fastening point to fasten said ends together to form a closed loop for said neck band, said closed dimensions being adjustable by varying said fastening point.

*zgggg 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,761,964 Dated October 2, 1973 Inventor(s) JOHN MARK PIPER It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 2].: "simultaed" should read simulated Column 4, line 21: "of" should read or Column 5, line 45: "form he" should read form 74 be Signed and sealed this 16th day of April 19714..

(SEAL) Atte s t EDLIARD M .LETC-HER, J H C MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents 

1. A contoured form for providing a simulated knot for a necktie comprising a first arcuate member having a contoured inner surface portion, a substantially parallel contoured outer surface portion, a common substantially centrally located channel portion having a pair of spaced apart upstanding side walls and a pair of substantially symmetrical arcuate contoured tapered portions, one of said tapered portions tapering inwardly toward said common channel, said other tapered portion being substantially the mirror image of said one tapered portion and tapering outwardly from said common channel so as to form a single continuous symmetrically tapered concave channel for said inner surface portion and a symmetrically tapered contoured arcuate convex portion for said outer surface portion, and said common centrally located channel portion includes means for enabling fastening of said necktie about said first arcuate member along the contours of said outer surface portion so as to directly form said simulated knot from said necktie.
 2. A contoured form in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for enabling fastening of said necktie about said arcuate member comprises an aperture in each of said common channel side walls, said apertures being substantially in registration along the transverse axis of said form.
 3. A contoured form in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for enabling fastening of said necktie comprises an upstanding rod-like member extending upwardly from said common channel substantially at the geometric center of said inner surface portion, said rod-like member having a tapered end point for protruding through said necktie when a portion thereof is placed over said end point, and a locking means slidably mounted on said rod-like member end point for securing said necktie portion to said form about said first arcuate member.
 4. A contoured form in accordance with claim 3 wherein said form further comprises a second arcuate member substantially geometrically similar to said first arcuate membEr and nestable therein, said second arcuate member common central channel portion having an aperture therein substantially at the geometric center thereof, said rod-like member end point protruding through said aperture when said second arcuate member is nested within said first arcuate member, said second arcuate member being between said locking means and said first arcuate member when said locking means is slidably mounted on said rod-like member end point.
 5. A contoured form in accordance with claim 4 wherein said second arcuate member is hingedly secured to said first arcuate member.
 6. A contoured form in accordance with claim 1 wherein said form is formed of a polyolefin material.
 7. A necktie having a simulated knot therein comprising a first arcuate member having a contoured inner surface portion, a substantially parallel contoured outer surface portion, a common substantially centrally located channel portion having a pair of spaced apart upstanding side walls and a pair of substantially symmetrical arcuate contoured tapered portions, one of said tapered portions tapering inwardly toward said common channel, said other tapered portion being substantially the mirror image of said one tapered portion and tapering outwardly from said common channel so as to form a single continuous symmetrically tapered concave channel for said inner surface portion and a symmetrically tapered contoured arcuate convex portion for said outer surface portion, said common channel portion including an aperture in each of said channel side walls substantially in registration along the transverse axis of said form; and a tie body having a lower portion and an upper portion, said upper portion being narrower than said lower portion, said upper portion having a part thereof draped about said form outer surface portion and a part thereof passed through said continuous concave channel, said upper portion having a transverse fold therein across said outer surface draped part substantially parallel to the transverse axis of said form, securing means extending through said outer surface draped upper portion part at said apertures and through said apertures for directly fastening said necktie upper portion parts together about said first arcuate member with said draped part along the contours of said outer surface portion so as to directly form said simulated knot from said necktie.
 8. A necktie in accordance with claim 7 wherein said fastened upper portion parts form a loop, said necktie including a neck band means extending through said loop.
 9. A necktie in accordance with claim 8 wherein said neck band means includes a pair of ends having fastening means thereat, said end fastening means cooperating together along a variable fastening point to fasten said ends together to form a closed loop for said neck band, said closed dimensions being adjustable by varying said fastening point. 